Welding mechanism



Dec. 8, 1942. H. PURAT f* WELDING MEcHANI'sM Filed Dee. 13, 1940 2 sheetssneet 1 INVENTOR ATTOR Eri s z i: 7, 1mi 6 i a f g 4 2 w :a 6%... 4 4 M g V2 2a `H. PURAT WELDING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 1:5, 1940 zsheets-sheer A2 INVENTOR ATToRN 5- Pat-naa Dee s, 1942.

sive Welder Company, Detroit, Mich.,

ration o! Michigan Applieation December 13,1940, Serial No. 370,050

(ci. 21a-4) b v 13mm Thepresent invention relates to welding machines, and, in its illustrated'form, provides an improved .electrode supporting lstructure for a spot welding machine. f

The principal objects of the present invention V are to provide a structure of the abovey character which is simple in operation; to provide suchV a structure which is readily adjustable to accom- Referring to Figs. 1. through 6, the present welding machine comprises a frame structure,

modate work'of diiierent thicinesses and sizes; f to provide such a structure embodying means' to .loelectrode 26 may be electrically connected, support an @lectrode for movement between rey tracted and work engaging positions, and embodying a cooperating member whichis releasably engageable with the electrodeto'electrically connect the electrode to a source oflwelding current; toprovide such a structurein which the housed within the frame 20. As illustrated, the

electrode and lthe releasable member are carried cooling arrangement; and to generally improvethe construction and operation o f'welding rstructures.

With the above, as welll as otherandmore -detailed objects in view, which appear in the Iollowing description and in the appended claims 'a preferred embodiment of the invention is described in the following speciiication and shown designated generally as 20, having a tubular support 22 projecting from the forward face thereof, which support carries a holder 24 for the relatively stationary electrode 26. It will'be understood that the holder 24 is axially adjustable within the support and the electrode `26 is vertically adjustable within the holder 24. Also, the

through the holder 24, to one secondary lead of a suitable transformer (not shown), which may be electrode 26 is-of thewater-cooled type, and illustrative fluid lines 28 extend from suitable cir-v culating structure (not shown) within the frame 20 to the electrode 26. Similarcooling conduits 29 are provided for the movable electrode 30.

The movable electrode 30 is vertically reciprocable' between the retracted position, vshown iny Fig. 1, and' the clamped position, shown in Fig.

, port 36 is suitably supported by the machine l in the accompanying drawings, throughout the several views of which corresponding'reference characters are used,to designate corresponding parts and in which:

' Figure lis a' view in perspective of a preferred along the line` 4--4 o f Fig. 3;

' mentioned transformer.

1y but removably secured to the support 46 by' .frame 20 and may be conventionally adjustable inwardly and outwardly of the machine frame. Also, thev support 36 may be provided, within the machine frame 20, with suitable connections to the other secondary terminalof the previously The bracket 34 is rigidmeans of one or more bolts 30, which pass through the support 36 and also through the o upperand lower legs of the bracket 34.4

' 40 Fig. 4 is a view in horizontal section, taken Fig. 5 isa view in vertical section, taken along Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in section, taken along the line 6-4 of Fig. 4.

. It will be appreciated from a complete underl The'upper end ofthe sleeve. 32 is flanged, as

indicated at 40, to provide `a seat for, the lower -end 42 of a fluid pressure operated ram 44, which may be actuated eitherby hydraulic pressure or by a compressible iiuid pressure, air being a preferred operating medium. The ram 44 slidably I' receives apiston 46, the piston rod 48 whereof -projects outwardly from the lower end of the ram 44 and normally freely abuts the upper end of the cylindrical electrode 30. In accordance with the arrangement disclosed in application Serial No. 349,947, iiled August A2, 1940, by Howard H. Daily, and' assigned to the assignee hereof,

60 iluid pressure may be introduced into and' exhausted from the ram 44, under the control of a usual solenoid operated valve 64, it being understood that in the de-energized position oi ,thisl valve, it connects the ram to exhaust and in the energized .position thereof, it closes the exhaust f connection and connects the ram to a source of uid pressure, designated 55 in Fig.. 1.

In order to normally bias the electrode 66, and consequently the ram piston, to the illustrated upper position, the auxiliary cylinder 56 is provided. This cylinder is illustrated as being formed integrally with the bracket 66 and slidably receives a piston 56, the piston rod 66 whereof is proin'ded with'a crosshead 62. The cross-v `head 62 projects through a slot 66 formed in the back of the sleeve 62, and is rigidly connected to the movable electrode 66. The cylinder 66 is provided with an inlet and exhaust port 66, which continuously communicates, through the line 66 (Fig. 1), with the source 55 of fluid pressure.

It will be understood tha-t when the valve 66 is actuated to connect the ram 66 to the source of fluid pressure, the piston 66 forces the electrode 36 downwardly into clamping engagement with the work W against the opposing force of the piston 66, the differential pressure thus exerted against the electrode 36 being determined' by the relative areas of the pistons 66 and 66, and being further adjustable, as will be understood, by the use of suitable metering or other valves interposed'between the rams 66 and 66, respectively, and the source of fluid pressure. Upon de-energizing the valve 56, th pressure is relieved from the piston 66 without, however, interrupting the fluid pressure vapplied to the piston 56, which thereupon becomes effective to elevate the electrode 36 from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

As is described in said Daily application, it is preferred in certain instances `to provide for a variation in pressure during the welding cycle, and this variation is afforded, in the present structure, by employing an auxiliary ram 6|, in further accordance with the disclosure of said Daily application. As is disclosed in more detail in the Daily application, the ram 66 is surmounted by the ram 6|, the ypiston rod 66 whereof projects through the otherwise closed lower end of the ram 6|, and directly engages the piston 66 of the ram 66. 'I'he ram 6| may be and preferably is provided with a return spring 6l, and is also provided with a solenoid operated control valve 51, which communicates with a source 56 of fluid pressure. The source 66 may, if desired, be arranged to afford the same or a different pressure than is afforded by the line Il. It will be understood that in the de-energized pomtion. the valve 61 connects the ram 6| to exhaust and, in the energized position, closes the exhaust connection and connects the ram 6| to the source 56. The timing control system may be arranged to provide for operating the valves 66 and 61 together or in proper sequence, so as to provide the proper pressure sequence, and may further be arranged to eliminate the ram 6| fromthe system and employ only the relatively l'ow pressure afforded by the ram 66. One such control system is disclosed in vthe Chester F. Leathers application, Serial No. 365,321, flied November 12, 1940, and assigned to the hereof and in the Cletus J. Collom application. Serhl No.

369,760, filed December 12, 1940, and to the Weltronic Corporation.

In the present construction, the electrical oonnection between the previously identified conducting support 66 and the movable electrode 66 is made through a clamping bracket 16, -which surrounds the lowerend of the cylindrical electrode 66, and is actuableby means of the piston 12 between a released position, in which it freely allows the previously described vertical movements of the electrode 66, and a clamped position, in which it forms a substantially continuous connection between the electrode 66 and the support 66. The bracket 16 is electrically connected to the support 66, through the bracket 66, by means of a pair of laterally spaced, flexible, laminated bus bars 16. The outer end of each bus Abar 16 is connected by means of a stud 16 to the bracket 16, and the inner end of each bus bar is correspondingly connected by a stud 16 to the lower leg of the previously mentioned member 66. The laminated bus bars 16 give some vertical support to the clamping bracket 16, but it is preferred-to supplement this support by a pair of supporting springs 1|, one of which is shown in detail in Fig. 6. 'I'he springs 'Il are respectively received in counterbores 16 formed in bosses at the respectively opposite sides of the sleeve 62. One end of each spring bears against the base of the associated counterbore, and the other end thereof bears against the head of a stud 16, which is threaded into the body of the l clamping .bracket 16. -With this relation, the

springs 1| are effective to yieldingly hold the clamping bracket 16 in abutting relation to the lower end of the sleeve 62.

The bracket 1.6 comprises a central body portion 66, which is best shown in Fig. 4, and embraces the movable electrode 66. It also comprises a pair of spaced apart legs 62, the respectively outer faces whereof are of wedge form, and are preferablyprovided with wear plates 66. The legs 62 and the connecting body portion 66 are sufficiently 'spring-like, so that upon release of the piston 12, as described below, body 66 expands sumciently to release the electrode 66. Preferably and as illustrated, however, this releasing movement is accelerated by introducing a compressible rubber pad 66 between the legs 62, which pad is compressed when the legs 62 are forced together and which, upon release of the piston 12, becomes effective to assist in spreading the legs 62 and releasing the electrode 66 from the clamp. l

The piston 12 is slidably received in a cylinder 66 and is provided with a compression spring 66,

rigidly connected at their extreme ends to the bracket r16, by means of pins |66. Theend portions'of the legs 66 are received in notches provided therefor in the sides of the clamping bracket 16, the lower surfaces |62 whereof afford additional support for such legs.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that the welding current passes directly through the clamping bracket 16, and also passes through the bracket 66, the principal part of such currentfiow being confined, however, to the lower leg of the bracket 66. In further accordance with Lthe present invention, the brackets 66 and 16 are provided with a cooling circuit,.and for this purpose,'the periphery of the body portion of the bracket 16 is grooved, and a flexible conduit ||6 is secured in this groove. The ends ||2and ||6 ofthe conduit lllareconnected, re-

' conduits |20 and |22.

trated righthand position.`

specuvely, by semble portions 'ns and m, to

The conduits |20 and |22 are secured in grooves provided inthe respecbracket 84. Such lower leg is provided with lateral projections |24 and |26 at the respectively are provided with bores through which the con- "duits |20 and |22 are passed. It win be understood that the conduits |20 'and |22 lead to the previously identified lsource of cooling liquid (not shown), which may be located within the frame 20.

As to operation, the resilience of the bracket 10, together with the action of the pad 83, yieldingly urges the legs 82 far enough apart to release the electrode 30 for free vertical movement with respect to the bracket.l Under normal conditions, also, the piston 12 is retained in its righthand position by means of the compression spring 88. Preparatory to making a` weld, and after the ram 44 has been actuated to move the electrode 30 downwardly to the active position -ol Fig. 42, fluid pressure is applied, through the vthe required amount of downward movement of the bracket is permitted by the flexible. character ofthe bus bars 14. At the conclusion of -the flow of welding current, the valve |06 (Fig.

` 3) which controls the passage |04 leading tothe cylinder 86, isde-energized, connecting this cyltively opposite faces of the lower leg of the j active position. clamping the two workpieces between the electrodes 26 and 30. The relatively high pressure employed at this stage of the welding cycle is sufilcient to force the engaging surfaces of the two workpieces rmly together,

preparatory to the actual 'making of the weld. As will be evident, the construction of the machine is such that the line of force is substantially coincident with the axes of the electrodes 26 and 30, so that any tendency of these elec- K trodes to cock the work is eliminated.

After a predetermined period, following the actuation of ram 6|, the previously completed circuit for the high pressure valve 51 is interrupted, which thereupon relieves the pressure from 'the auxiliary ram 6|. At this time, also, energizing circuits are completed for the 'valve 54, associated with the low pressure ram 44, and the valve |06, associated with the clamping ram mi..l Y.

The energization of valve 54 applies a relatively lower or welding pressure to the electrodes 30 and 26, through the piston 46 of the rainv .44, and it will'be understood that valve 54 i'aybe timed to operate and apply such lower or welding pressure before the pressure inthe ram 6| v has fallen to a value lower than the value of the welding pressure. Thus, the change from the V initial high pressure to the weldingpressurefis effected without reducing the'pressurebetween theelectrodesto a value lower.v than the welding inder to exhaust, and enabling the compression spring 88 to return the piston 1-2 to the illus- This return movement of the piston is also aided by the resilience of the legs 82 of the clamping bracket 10 and the pad 88. Thus, upon relief of Ethe pressure in the cylinder 86, the legs 82 expand suillciently to free the movable electrode 30.

After the conclusion of the flow of welding current, also, the actuating pressure on the electrode $0 -is released, enabling it to return to the@- position of Fig. l, under the influence of the ram I8. As will be understood,A this may be accompllshed by lrestoring valves 54 and 51 to the deenergized condition. which action is usually timed to occur at the expiration of .the Ausual ,"hold time"y interval, and in all instances ispreferably timed to .occur after the clamping bracket 10.

4 More s'pecically, the operations` afforded by release of the .the timing control system of lthe aforesaid Leathers and Collom applications are as follows.

`it is desired to effect a welding operu ation, it will be appreciated that the workpiecas inl question may be interposed between the eleco i. the ram sl to che source ss of relatively nigh fluid\pressure, thereby actuating the piston rod 8l to mo've the Velectrode 80 downwardly into its 75 pressure. y The energization' of the clamping valve |06 `applies pressure to the piston 12, associated with the` cylinder 86, which thereupon clamps the clamping bracket 10around the movable l' .electrode 30, thus completingthe secondary'circuit of the welding transformer, preparatory to the clamping bracket 10; and to further recomplete the circuit for the valve 51, associated with the 'high pressure ram 6|. It will be understood, as before, ,that the timing of these valve'- actions is such that the high pressure ram is enabled to buildup its pressure at least as rapidly as'the low pressure is dissipated from the lo'w pressure ram, so that at this stage, the electrode pressuredoes not fall below the lower or welding value. y

At the expiration of a predetermined hold time, .following the release of the clamping bracket 10, the circuit for the high pressure valve 51 is interrupted, which thereupon relieves the pressure in the ram 6| and enables the originally built up return pressure in the small cylinder 56 (Fig. 3) to restore the movable electrodel 30 to the illustrated upper position, thereby completing the welding cycle.

As4V aforesaid, there are certain instances in I which the entire welding operation can beperformed without providing the above Adiscussed variation in the pressure between the electrodes.

In such instances, suitable means may be provvidedto eliminate the high pressure valve 51 from the system. Under such circumstances, accordingly, the closure of the pilot switch first energizes the low pressure ram 44, thereafter energizes the clamping valve |06 and thereafter, as before, produces the Welding cyple. At the conclusion of the flow of welding/current, the clamping valve |06 is first released, and thereafter, at the expiration of the hold time, ram M is released, completing the cycle.

It will be appreciated that various modificationsin the form, number and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and that the herein described embodiment of the invention is to be regarded in an illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

l. In a Welder, the combination of a movable electrode having a conductive surface, means for moving the same into engaging relation to the work, and means for supporting and for completing an electrical circuit to the electrode comprising a member having a conductive surface complemental in'form to and releasablyv engageable with the said electrode surface.

2. In a Welder, the combination of a movable electrode, means for supporting and moving the same into engaging relation to the work, a conducting member releasably engageable with the electrode, and means comprising anexible conductor for completing an electrical circuit through said conducting member to the electrode.

3. In a Welder, the combination of a supporting member, an electrode carried thereby for movement relative thereto between work engaging and retracted positions, and a conducting member releasably engageable with the electrode and carwork engaging and retracted positions, a conducting 'member releasably engageable with the electrode, and means for electrically connecting said conducting member to said support.

5. In a Welder, the combination of a conducting 1 support, an electrode movably mounted on said support for movementbetween work engaging releasably engageable with the electrode, and a flexible conductor for electrically connecting said conducting member lto said supporting member.

7. In a welder, the combination ofa conducting support, an electrode movably mounted on said support for movement between work engaging and retracted positions, a conducting member releasably engageable with the electrode, and a flexible conductor for electrically connecting said conducting member to said supporting member, and means providing a supporting connection between said conducting member and said supporting member.

8. In a welder, the combination of a conducting support, a movableelectrode' and actuating means therefor carried by said support, said actuating means being operable to move said electrode between work engaging and retracted positions, a conducting member releasably engageable with the electrode. and means comprising a flexible conductor for supporting said conducting member and for electrically connecting the same to said first-mentioned support.

9. In a Welder', the combination of a conducting support, a movable electrode and actuating means therefor carried by said support, said actuating means being operable to move said electrode between work engaging and retracted positions, a conducting clamp embracing said electrode, meam for contracting said clamp into engagement with the electrode, and means for electrically connecting said clamp to said first-mentioned support. l I

10. In a Welder, the combination of a conducting support, a movable electrode and actuating means therefor carried by said support, said actuating means being operable to move said electrode between work engaging and retracted positions, a conducting clamp embracing said electrode, means for contracting said clamp into engagement with the electrode, and means comprising a ilexible conductor for electrically connecting said clamp to said rst-mentioned support.

1l. In a welder, the combination of a movable electrode, a conducting clamp embracing said electrode, and means for contracting said clamp into engagement with the electrode, said clamp being formed to expand upon release of said means so as to permit relative movement between Said electrode and the clamp.

12. In a welder, the combination of an electrode, a conducting clamp embracing said electrode and having spaced legs extending laterally therefrom, wedging means cooperating with said legs to contract the clamp into engagement with l the electrode, and means for actuating said wedging means, said clamp being formed to expand upon release of said actuating means.

13. In a welder, the combination of a movable electrode, means for moving the same into engaging relation to the work, and means for completing an electrical circuit to the electrode comprising a conducting member releasably engageable with the electrode, and flexible conducting means connected to said conducting member.

HUGO P'URAT.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,5dh121. December 8, 19kg.

HUGO PURAT.

It is hereby certified-that error appears in the printed specification Aof the above numbered patent requiring vcorrection as follows: Pageh., first column,` line 19, claim l, strikeoutrthe words "for supporting and and insert the same after "means" in line 1'?, same claim; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the'recordof the case in the Patent Office.

signed and sealed this 2nd day of March, A. D. 19145 (Seal) v y Henry Van Arsdale,

Acting Commissioner of Patents.

CERTIFICATE oF coRREcTioN. l l Patent; Ne. 2,5ol L,121. December 8, 191m.

HUGO -PURAT It is hereby c ertifiedthat errorappears in the printed specifiction .of the above numered patent'requiring correction as follows: `Page-hr,.first column, line 19, caim l, strkeout'the words for supporting and and l insert the seme after means 1n line 17, same claim; and that the seid Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the'r'e'cordrof the case in the Pgtent Office.

Signed and sealed this 2nd day'of March, A. D. 19ML' (Seal)V Henry Van Arsdale,

Acting, Commissioner of Patents. 

